For the sake of this poll we consider the game with its official expansions (i.e. Baldur's Gate with Tales of the Sword Coast, Baldur's Gate II with Throne of Bhaal and Icewind Dale with Heart of Winter /Trials of the Luremaster).

The games are listed in the poll chronologically from Baldur's Gate (1998) to Icewind Dale II (2002).

Only four years and five breathtaking games. Those were the days.

Please take the time to tell us about the reasons behind your choice.

_________________"Growing old is inevitable but growing up is optional."

Planescape: Torment is my favorite of the IE games. It is the least focused on combat and most focused on story. It's a very wordy game, which makes it almost like an interactive fantasy novel. And a good novel, even. It's really a work of art.

Baldur's Gate II would probably be my second favorite. It is far more focused on combat, but the story is good. I've probably played through this game more than PS:T. It's fun trying different classes and party combinations.

Baldur's Gate II ToB is my favorite. I love the dialogue and the different ways you can play it. Planescape/Torment would be my second and a ver close runner up. It is so intricate and weird. Quite different from most other games. The ending is unique also. What is your name? Who are you?

Kara your should do a review of Planescape/Torment. I think one could play that game forever and never do all that can be done.

Baldur's Gate for me (the first not the second, I like low level adventures I've always felt that in BG2 the focus was more on getting the right items than playing a character/class) with Icewind Dale 2 not too far behind (mainly for the system and its flexibility although at times it's just too much hack and slash although the fights are part of the fun).

Baldur's Gate has a great story something that can't be said of many CRPGs. It was more about the struggle with the EVIL within rather than the evil without and as such the focus was interesting. Think about the quote during the intro movie: "when you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you." That alone sums up perfectly what the game is about... Besides BG1 is clearly the less linear of all the IE games.

In comparison IWD1 is too vanilla (although that is part of its charm) and too linear (very much so).

I'm not that fond of Planescape Torment. It may have to do with the fact that I was already familiar with the pen and paper setting and that I played this game much later but I didn't find it so enjoyable. I wasn't awed by the setting (as I knew what to expect from Sigil and the Planes) and I'm convinced that the game system didn't work that well for this game... Every time I launch the game I end up being annoyed by the fights and I can't wait for the necessary confrontations to be over with (in my experience fights in this game are utterly boring when the whole point is that they should be fun). Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't like this game, it's just that apart from the incredible story and the amazing writing I find it really annoying. To me it's more of a flawed gem rather than the ultimate gaming experience everyone is raving about but I don't expect anyone to agree with me. It may succeed as an "interactive fantasy novel" but IMO it doesn't succeed that well as a game.

_________________"Growing old is inevitable but growing up is optional."

I think the reason Baldur's Gate/ToB is my favorite is because I played the greatest, most fun game ever with it. I played 'smart' evil and Savorok *is that right?) and that nasty wizard thought I was the greatet. I also had Jan along and they piced on him. He was always hiding behind me for fear of them. It was just so great. The dialogue was so great. I think I had a mod installed that differientiated between your public virtue and your true virtue. Your companions knew what you where up to but the mostly the public didn't. That was the game of a lifetime.

Playing an evil character who is a truly smart villain is a treat indeed. I find it rather satisfying in BG1 as well. In BG2 I find that Anomen is just perfect (Chaotic Neutral Anomen) for such a party. I like having neutral or good -but misguided- followers. My smart protagonist doesn't feel comfortable trusting his life with psychos and bloodthirsty killers (like Shar Teel, Edwin, Korgan or Xzar and Montaron). Especially when you can get honest and nice people to do your dirty work and actually believe your lies. It is funny.

_________________"Growing old is inevitable but growing up is optional."

Edwin, I couldn't think of his name. Thanks. My SoA party was Yoshima, Edwin, Korgan, Jan and I think Vicky. Oh, I had the others to start of course. ToB I have forgotten who I had except for Saravok, Edwin, Jan and Korgan. U was a fighter/thief and didn't really need Jan but I am very fond of him. He is so cute.

Is that even a question? PLANESCAPE TORMENT FTW! This game is a MASTERPIECE, It has a good story, it's fun to play, and the Planar environment is a breath of fresh air from all those games that take place in the medieval times I.E BG 1&2. Now, I am NOT knocking BG, great games, but personally? Torment is just the best. ----

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Especially when you can get honest and nice people to do your dirty work and actually believe your lies. It is funny.

Planescape/Torment is a unique game and would probably be my favorite except for the nostalgia factor. BG/SoA was my first real CRPg and I struggled through it on my own. Then I got BG I and TOB.

Betral at Kronder was my first game called Role playing but you really didn't have much choice as to how you role played. It was unique for its time and still has a strong cult following. BG II was the first game where I had a choice as to who, what and how I played the game.

Edwin, I couldn't think of his name. Thanks. My SoA party was Yoshima, Edwin, Korgan, Jan and I think Vicky. Oh, I had the others to start of course. ToB I have forgotten who I had except for Saravok, Edwin, Jan and Korgan. U was a fighter/thief and didn't really need Jan but I am very fond of him. He is so cute.

I never played BG I as really evil.

You definitely should as there are definitely more possibilities for some good old evil fun.

Jan Jansen can have a nasty streak that can get pretty sweet down the line (think Joe Pesci in a Scorsese movie). As for the others my Bhaalspawn would only trust Sarevok in ToB because of the oath thing (mighty effective). Edwin requires a main character who is very benevolent or has a very low self esteem. Korgan is as untrustworthy as they get.

In my opinion Viconia works much better with a Good protagonist. There is the redemption line and the fact that you have to save her to get her in your party. What incentive could an evil character have to save her? Burn baby burn!

_________________"Growing old is inevitable but growing up is optional."

Not much of an argument my French speaking friend. Torment is indeed an interesting CRPG but IMO it is not as entertaining as the other IE games. I've said it before and I'll say it again but to me it fails as a game (I'm not sure the game system really works that well for the Nameless One).

The writing is stellar but it's not a game that I really find entertaining -and I've really tried if you see what I mean. Then again I was familiar with the Planescape setting from pen and paper Advanced Dungeons & Dragons so the setting of Torment, the Planes, Sigil and the factions didn't blow me away.

Kana referred to Torment as an "interactive fantasy novel" and I think this comparison is rather apt.

That being said it's worth giving it a try if only to make your own opinion as it is certainly a rather original game and one that is worth a try (more than I can say about Temple of Elemental Evil for instance).

_________________"Growing old is inevitable but growing up is optional."

Cara, perhaps the game system is flawed compared to other IE games, but the rich storyline give this game a lot of depth, I found myself playing through the game just to see the story unfold. The rich plotline gives the game a very satisfying feeling. Besides, the planar settings is a breath of fresh air compared to the beaten to death medieval setting. I agree with interactive novel, and to me, that's what makes the game so satisfying. It might not play as good as BG or IWD, but on a writing point, it's a superb game.

When it comes to other 3rd person isometric CRPGs I do have a soft spot for Arcanum and Lionheart (CRPGs that were derived from the Fallout SPECIAL system).

I don't think the perfect game exists. Torment definitely had some of the best writing ever to grace a video game but I found the battles incredibly boring whereas in IWD2 battles are the meat of the game (and despite the limited RP and the inevitable hack and slash I like this game). Perhaps 3E would have been a better system to reflect the Nameless One's prowess and abilities (instead of switching classes and relying on party members).

_________________"Growing old is inevitable but growing up is optional."

Lionheart is a flawed game but one that I like nevertheless. The beginning is really good but after a while it becomes a rather basic hack and slash game. The universe was promising, it followed real history with a major difference, during the Crusades a rift between worlds was opened and as a result creatures were spawned upon the earth including some feral, demonic, sylvan and elemental variant of humans each with their own strengths and weaknesses. The game used the SPECIAL system from Fallout which meant that it was impossible to create a character that would succeed at everything but it played like Diablo. The quests and dialogues were rather good during the first part but the endgame felt rushed. I can only recommend it as a curiosity for fans of isometric CRPGs, playing the first half is a real treat but the ending is really weak and the game itself is very unforgiving (if you mess up your build you may not be able to complete the game).

_________________"Growing old is inevitable but growing up is optional."

Icewind Dale 1 and 2 are hack and slash. BG1 and 2 are about the inner struggle against evil (the Bhaal essence). Hack and slash can be fun when it serves a story and when you can develop some RPing elements (if you choose to). In a straightforward hack and slash fest (think Diablo) there isn't much RP involved.

I've been playing pen and paper RPGs for 25 years now, the only reason I don't play much anymore is because of real life as it becomes really difficult to gather a few friends for at least 6 hours when you're in your 30s and when some of your pals have significant others and kids. Although to be honest being single and not having any kids I tend to go out with friends who are younger and/or don't have kids (or clingy/needy girlfriends).

The great thing with computer games is that you can play at odd hours and you don't need several friends to start a game. But no matter what you can't beat pen and paper games when it comes to having fun.

_________________"Growing old is inevitable but growing up is optional."